LUKE 20:21-26 ANSWER AWES ANTAGONISTS

ANSWER AWES ANTAGONISTS

LUKE 20:21-26

(See also Matt. 22:16–21; Mark 12:13–17)

Luke 20:21 And they asked him, saying, Master, we know that thou sayest and teachest rightly, neither acceptest thou the person of any, but teachest the way of God truly:

Susie: According to the parallel passage in Mark’s gospel, this question was posed by a group of Pharisees and Herodians. These two groups were on opposite sides when it came to the occupying Romans. The Pharisees despised being under Rome’s authority whereas the Herodians backed Herod who was Rome’s puppet king. However, both opposed Jesus and united their efforts to bring Him down.

Mark 12:13 And they send unto him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, to catch him in his words.

Susan: They shrewdly and deceptively tried to lull Jesus into a stupor with their flattery. They complimented His teaching as authentic and according to God’s way. They acknowledged that He did not give VIP treatment to people of stature in the community, nor did He shun those who were poor or looked down upon. However, these were not their sincere feelings toward Him, evidenced by the fact that they refused to be His followers.

Susie: They are attempting to present themselves as honest seekers of wisdom and truth.

Luke 20:22 Is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Caesar, or no?

Susie: These Pharisees and Herodians (supporters of Herod, Rome’s puppet king) asked Jesus a loaded question. If He answered that it was not lawful, He would be opposing Rome and guilty of breaking the civil law. If He answered that it was lawful, the Jews would see Him as breaking Jewish laws against graven images and worshipping false gods.

Luke 20:23 But he perceived their craftiness, and said unto them, Why tempt ye me?

Susan: Jesus realized that rather than honest seekers, these men were slithering snakes in the grass, waiting for the right moment to strike.

Susie: Some Greek manuscripts leave out “Why tempt ye me?” but the Aramaic texts include it.

Luke 20:24 Shew me a penny. Whose image and superscription hath it? They answered and said, Caesar's. And he said unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar's, and unto God the things which be God's.

Susan: Jesus asked them to show Him the Roman coin used to pay the tax which was a denarius worth one day’s wage for the common worker.

Susie: He asked them whose image was engraved on the coin, and they rightly replied that is was Caesar’s picture. Then He gave the wise answer to give back to Caesar what was Caesar’s and to God what was God’s.

Susan: The Roman coin belonged to Rome, to Caesar. Therefore, Jesus indicated they should pay their taxes to Rome. Jesus then pointed out that we should give to God what is God’s. We really liked this verse in The Passion Translation of this verse:

Luke 20:25 (TPT) Jesus said, “Precisely. The coin bears the image of the Emperor Caesar, and you should give back to Caesar all that belongs to him. But you bear the image of God. So give back to God all that belongs to him.”

Susan: The coin bore the image of Caesar, but we are made in the image of God.

Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

Susan: Since we bear the image of God, we should commit all we have and all we are to the Lord.

Susie: We pay our taxes to the civil government that God has authorized to provide things like roads, armies, and other needs of society. However, our greater tribute is due to the One who created us and sustains us. This is especially true for those of us who have trusted Jesus as our Savior.

Hebrews 1:3 (NIV) The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.

Luke 20:26 And they could not take hold of his words before the people: and they marvelled at his answer, and held their peace.

Susie: They had set out to entrap and embarrass Jesus in front of His followers and the large crowds who came to hear Him at the temple.

Susan: However, their plot was foiled again. His answer awed, amazed, and silenced these Pharisees and Herodians!

Ponder this and Apply it: Jesus did not speak out against paying the tax. However, He then pointed out that we should give God that which is due Him. Since God owns everything, we must realize we are only stewards of what we call “ours.” We should give generously of our time, talents, and money to the Lord’s work, and daily sacrifice ourselves to His service:

Romans 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.